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Harry Watson's avatar

Nice piece Will, and I wrote my 5 minute poem some years ago on the 40th anniversary of my father's death...

My father was a storyteller;

A teller of tales

Yet,

I cannot now remember his voice

Will Johnson's avatar

Thanks, Harry. Shortly after my dad died, it suddenly occurred to me that I would never hear his voice again, and it hit me really hard. I did subsequently find a few videos I had of him playing with the children and a live Apple photo of him waving goodbye to me, when press the image to make it ‘live’ I can here his voice simply saying “be good” (the way he always said goodbye to me). It’s a treasured thing.

I love that your dad was a storyteller and that his talent passed down on you.

Harry Watson's avatar

Thank you Will, and sadly I have no record of my father's voice although my older brother's is so similar it's a hint of a memoria vitae of my father. There are so many recordings of our existence these days it will be difficult for those who follow to escape them.

Will Johnson's avatar

Yes, I sense you’re right there Harry, a completely different state of affairs. Have a lovely weekend.

Harry Watson's avatar

And you, Will

Jamie Millard's avatar

Beautiful Will! 🙏❤️

Will Johnson's avatar

Thanks mate :) stay warm.

Mountain Singing's avatar

“Perhaps beauty is central to healing?”

Yes!!

Will Johnson's avatar

There’s a certain beauty to the old stories, and the old stories are deeply healing! Thanks for reading 🙏

A Wild Green Heart's avatar

A lovely update Will, packed with goodness. Thank you.

"Often it's a Bird" is a great poem - not one I've come across before.

And that Rilke poem is one of several of his I'm memorising as part of a course I'm on.

The story of the swallow flying into and out of the room at the serendipitous moment is stunning. I really love that.

Curiously, Tobit was one of the stories I heard Hugh Lupton tell in Manchester.